ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Saturday said the FIA has been directed to accelerate investigation into treason case against former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf and present the report at the earliest.

He said Musharraf's name was on Exit Control List (ECL) and it would not be removed till the court's decision.

The former president is currently seeking a bail in Lal Masjid operation case after being granted bail in three other cases and his lawyer said on Wednesday he was cleared to leave the country.

Assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, death of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti and detention of deposed Supreme Court judges were the other three major cases registered against the former military ruler.

The statement has come on the anniversary of a Musharraf-led military coup d'état that overthrew an elected government of Nawaz Sharif on October 12, 1999.

The Supreme Court on July 3 had disposed of petitions calling for registration of a treason case against the former military strongman and directed the government to continue approaching the matter in light of its official statement presented to the court.

The government had in its statement said that it would proceed in accordance with the law and prosecute Musharraf for treason under Article 6 of the Constitution — after taking the political forces into confidence.

Interior Minister Nisar was briefing reporters after chairing a meeting, which was attended by officials of interior ministry and its attached departments.

He said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had also been directed to accelerate investigation into four mega financial scams in government institutions.

The FIA was given 42 days to complete the probe into corruption cases relating to Employees Old Age Benefit Institution (EOBI), Trading Corporation of Pakistan, Islamabad new airport, and Pakistan State Oil.

The minister said absconders abroad would also be brought back with Interpol's assistance and all the cases would be decided on merit irrespective of political affiliations.

The government wanted to ensure a fair and transparent system in every public organisation, he said. ‘Awareness and Protection System’ would be launched in collaboration with FIA and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to check corruption in government organisations, he added.

Nisar said some irregularities had been traced out in the Passport and Immigration Department, so it was decided to cancel more than 2000 illegal diplomatic passports. Even some retired government officials were using those passports, he revealed.

He said the system to issue passport had been made more transparent and the applicants could get information about the status by mobile SMS service.

The minister said that a normal passport would be issued within 10 days and an urgent one in four days.

Citing reports of a few policemen having links with criminals, car lifters and even terrorists, he directed the chief commissioner and IG Islamabad police to immediately expel them.

A Rapid Response Force had been established in Islamabad Police equipped with necessary gadgets and weapons.

The minister said that residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi would not have to pay toll tax after January 1, 2014. He said e-tag system would be introduced for those coming from other cities to facilitate their entry. Police pickets were also being computerised for effective checking.

He said the secretary interior would hold meetings with heads of all cellular companies to implement an effective system for blocking the illegal SIMs used by terrorists and criminals, within two weeks.

Islamabad Traffic Police was also directed to not block roads during VIP convoys' movement for more than ten minutes.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Capital Development Authority (CDA) had been directed to open facilitation centers for addressing the complaints of citizens and to maintain public parks properly.

He said that a computerised system was being introduced at all police stations and Revenue Offices for maintaining proper record.

Commenting on the ongoing targeted operation against criminals and terrorists in Karachi, the interior minister said that law and order situation there was improving, however, a lot was yet to be done for restoring peace in the port city.